To apply for a PGCE course at the University of Manchester you must apply through UCAS Teacher Training. Please visit the UCAS website for further details. Applications or CVs sent directly to the University will not be considered.

Course options

Course description

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Secondary PGCE courses - The University of Manchester

This course will train you to become a chemistry teacher across the 11-16 or 11-18 age range. It will prepare you to teach the National Curriculum and related national strategies, GCSE and A level. Completion of this 10 month course leads to both a postgraduate qualification and qualified teacher status (QTS).

The course combines master's level academic study of science education with a range of school experiences. Approximately two-thirds of your time will be spent in our partnership schools and colleges developing your practical teaching skills with the support of trained science mentors and experienced teachers. When on placement, you will observe and teach classes under the guidance of an experienced science teacher mentor, improving your skills in planning, teaching and assessment.

Throughout the course you will learn how to:

Develop the confidence and competence of all pupils in thinking scientifically.

Teach and assess pupils' understanding of the different branches of science.

Help pupils to develop as independent and collaborative learners.

Use practical exercises, information and communication technology (ICT) and `the real world' in the teaching of science.

What our students say:

The course has been fantastic, the experience and most importantly the confidence I have developed whilst being on the PGCE is beyond anything I could have imagined. Yes it has been tough, but it has been completely worth it!

Fees

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees
. Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Scholarships/sponsorships

Generous, tax-free funding is available to the best graduates training in a range of subjects. You could get a £26,000 bursary or be awarded a prestigious scholarship - which provides additional support and benefits throughout your training year.

Home/EU students may be eligible for a repayable tuition fee loan. Home students in England may also be eligible for a repayable student maintenance loan. The loans support available to PGCE students is similar to what is available for undergraduate students and information about government financial support for undergraduate students is available here
.

If you have graduated in the last three years from The University of Manchester with a 1st class honours degree, you may also be eligible for our Alumni Scholarship
.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

Minimum 2:2 honours degree in a science-related subject with at least half of the content strongly related to chemistry

Grade B in chemistry at A-level (or equivalent), or grade C if you can demonstrate sustained academic progression since A-level, and at least one other science or maths A-level.

Minimum grade C or 4 at GCSE (or equivalent) in English language and mathematics.

References which support the suitability of the candidate for teaching

A personal statement

A personal statement should make clear:

The candidate's commitment to and enthusiasm for teaching;

their rationale for applying to be a teacher in their subject;

an awareness of the role and responsibilities of the teacher;

relevant experience suggesting suitability for the role;

a good standard of written English.

English language

In addition to a grade of C at GCSE in English Language, applicants whose first language is not English are required to meet the following language requirements:

IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.5 in writing, no sub-section below 6.0, or

TOEFL iBT overall score of 90 with a minimum score of 22 in writing and 20 in the other sub-sections, or

Pearson PTE overall score of 62 with a minimum score of 62 in writing and 55 in the other sub-sections, or

Cambridge CAE grade A or Cambridge CPE grade C (please note that the Cambridge First Certificate in English is not acceptable).

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Relevant work experience

We recommend that applicants spend at least two days observing teaching in a Secondary school or sixth form college prior to attending an interview, however this is not mandatory.

Application and selection

How to apply

To apply for a PGCE course at the University of Manchester you must apply through UCAS Teacher Training. Please visit the UCAS website
for further details. Applications or CVs sent directly to the University will not be considered.

How your application is considered

Applicants who are shortlisted based on their application will be invited to attend an interview day.

Interview Dates

Thursday 9 th
November 2017

Wednesday 22 nd
November 2017

Wednesday 6 th
December 2017

Wednesday 20 th
December 2017

Tuesday 23 rd
January 2018

Wednesday 31 st
January 2018

Wednesday 7 th
February 2018

Wednesday 14 th
February 2018

Tuesday 27 th
February 2018

Wednesday 7 th
March 2018

Tuesday 13 th
March 2018

Thursday 29 th
March 2018

Wednesday 11 th
April 2018

Tuesday 24 th
April 2018

Wednesday 2 nd
May 2018

Tuesday 15 th
May 2018

Wednesday 30 th
May 2018

Tuesday 12 th
June 2018

Thursday 28 th
June 2018

Tuesday 10 th
July 2018

Overseas (non-UK) applicants

Applicants holding qualifications from outside of the UK should apply to UK NARIC for a comparability statement to confirm the equivalence of their qualifications. This should be completed prior to application where possible. Successful applicants will be required to present officially translated copies of their qualification certificates.

Aptitude test requirement

PGCE students must pass the Professional Skills Tests prior to commencing the course. Preference will be given to those applicants who have passed their skills tests at the time of interview however we will interview those who have not yet passed their tests. Please refer to the Department for Education
for further advice about registering to take your skills tests.

Fitness to practise / health requirements

If your application is successful, we will require you to comply with a confidential health screening check as advised by the Department for Education. Health screening will be undertaken by the Student Occupational Health Service who will advise on any follow-up vaccinations or other intervention which may be indicated.

Disclosure and Barring Service check

If your application is successful, we will require you to comply with an enhanced check through the Disclosure and Barring Service as advised by the Department for Education. You must also meet the University's suitability requirements for the safeguarding of children.

Deferrals

Applications for deferred entry cannot be considered.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Transfers

Due to the nature of the PGCE course, applications for transfers cannot be considered.

Course details

Course description

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Secondary PGCE courses - The University of Manchester

This course will train you to become a chemistry teacher across the 11-16 or 11-18 age range. It will prepare you to teach the National Curriculum and related national strategies, GCSE and A level. Completion of this 10 month course leads to both a postgraduate qualification and qualified teacher status (QTS).

The course combines master's level academic study of science education with a range of school experiences. Approximately two-thirds of your time will be spent in our partnership schools and colleges developing your practical teaching skills with the support of trained science mentors and experienced teachers. When on placement, you will observe and teach classes under the guidance of an experienced science teacher mentor, improving your skills in planning, teaching and assessment.

Throughout the course you will learn how to:

Develop the confidence and competence of all pupils in thinking scientifically.

Teach and assess pupils' understanding of the different branches of science.

Help pupils to develop as independent and collaborative learners.

Use practical exercises, information and communication technology (ICT) and `the real world' in the teaching of science.

What our students say:

The course has been fantastic, the experience and most importantly the confidence I have developed whilst being on the PGCE is beyond anything I could have imagined. Yes it has been tough, but it has been completely worth it!

Aims

We will prepare you to help your pupils develop their capabilities in all aspects of scientific practice, such as: observing; experimenting; measuring; testing; creative thinking; reasoning; calculating; planning; arguing; and critiquing.

The University part of the course will enable you to reflect on teaching methods as well as encouraging you to observe how children learn. University sessions will include:

science subject knowledge and pedagogy;

misconceptions in science;

the role of group work and classroom talk in the science classroom;

the national curriculum and current debates in science education;

planning lessons;

assessment for learning;

differentiation;

managing pupil behavior; and

keeping records and using data to support pupils' progress.

What our students say:

'I particularly appreciated the opportunity to go to University to talk with other trainees about their experiences. I have also found the assignments to also be a huge benefit as it gives me time to pick an area I want to develop but I have little knowledge of.'

Special features

Top university to study a PGCE in the North of England (Good Teacher Training Guide 2017).

92% of our graduates in a teaching post within six months of completing the course - consistently better than the North West average (The University of Manchester 2013-2016).

Additional course information

Support

Your University tutors will provide excellent support for your academic work and personal needs. We operate an `open door' tutor policy where appointments are seldom necessary for one-to-one meetings. These meetings can be used to facilitate success sharing or to raise any personal or professional needs or concerns. Each school/college has a designated science mentor, trained by the University who will provide advice and guidance whilst you are on placement. The culture of team working and best practice sharing amongst students will provide you with a support network available when you need it the most.

Teaching and learning

The structure of our PGCEs includes both school-based and University-based learning. On our secondary PGCEs, around two thirds of your time will be spent in secondary schools, academies or colleges on placements. You will also need to undertake self-directed study in the evenings and weekends, such as background reading, creating lesson plans and completing written assignments.

A wide range of teaching methods are incorporated into the course, including: seminars; lectures; group discussion; practical workshops; trainee-led presentations; and peer review. Peer observations of lessons will enable you to participate actively in your own and your fellow students' development as teachers. You will be encouraged to use similarly active and well-principled approaches in your own science labs and classrooms. You will be provided with a significant amount of responsibility to develop your own teaching style, set targets, take your own initiatives and evaluate your own work in planning, teaching and assessing.

Teaching on our secondary science PGCEs is enhanced by the contribution of a small team of experienced teachers who work alongside PGCE tutors on school visits and in University sessions, plus visitors from exam boards and from the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics and the Society of Biology. Some sessions are run jointly with the University's science departments to benefit fully from the resources of the University, and with Manchester Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

The course is a partnership between the University and schools and colleges drawn from a wide area, including Bolton, Bury, Cheshire, Deeside, Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Staffordshire, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Warrington and Wigan. In your placement schools and colleges, you will observe and teach classes under the guidance of experienced subject mentors.

Coursework and assessment

Your school and University experiences are formally assessed. Both your mentors and tutors will help you to record your achievements and set targets. During each placement, a University tutor will observe you teach and at the end of each placement you will receive a report from your mentor. The report will grade you in the following areas:
teaching; planning, differentiation and assessment; learning environment and wider professional responsibilities. The grades are awarded by your mentor in conjunction your University tutor. These reports, together with your record of achievement and development facilitate your progression as a teacher.

You are also required to complete a number of written assignments, which will allow you to gain a maximum of 60 master's level credits. On-going guidance and support to complete these assignments will be available from your University tutors.

Scholarships and bursaries

Generous, tax-free funding is available to the best graduates training in a range of subjects. You could get a £26,000 bursary or be awarded a prestigious scholarship - which provides additional support and benefits throughout your training year.

Home/EU students may be eligible for a repayable tuition fee loan. Home students in England may also be eligible for a repayable student maintenance loan. The loans support available to PGCE students is similar to what is available for undergraduate students and information about government financial support for undergraduate students is available here
.

If you have graduated in the last three years from The University of Manchester with a 1st class honours degree, you may also be eligible for our Alumni Scholarship
.

Facilities

Your University-based learning will take place at The University of Manchester's Oxford Road campus, adjacent to Manchester's city centre. The campus is easily accessible by road or by an extensive network of public transport including trains, trams and buses.

Our Oxford Road campus is home to The University of Manchester Library and the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons. The University's library is one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK. Studying with us will open up a wealth of learning resources to you, including over four million printed books, more than 500,000 ebooks and access to over 40,000 electronic journals and hundreds of online databases. The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons offers you a stimulating 24/7 environment for study. It is the UK's first digital library and home to the most up-to-date IT facilities, a range of versatile learning spaces and a relaxing cafe area for breaks or meeting friends.

Our PGCE science laboratories are stocked with examples of the science apparatus currently used in schools and colleges. The John Rylands Library has online resources and an education section which, together with our state of the art reprographics and audio visual facilities, will provide you with excellent opportunities to develop your practical and theoretical teaching skills. You will also be given access to a large amount of high quality resources via the University's virtual learning environment - Blackboard.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

On completion of your PGCE and being granted qualified teaching status (QTS), you will work for a year as a newly qualified teacher (NQT). We keep in touch with our former students and continue to support them throughout their NQT year.

A Secondary Chemistry PGCE from the University of Manchester is a valued qualification regionally, nationally and internationally. You will be given clear direction, advice and support when making applications for teaching posts and our employment rates are consistently high. 88% of our secondary science PGCE 2013 graduates were in a teaching post within six months of completing their course.

Qualified teachers undertake continuous professional development throughout their career, both to maintain the latest subject knowledge and teaching techniques, and if desired, to facilitate progression into leadership and management positions. A PGCE qualification counts as 60 of the 180 credits required for a master's degree and The University of Manchester offers an MA in Educational Leadership should you wish to continue your professional development by completing a master's in the future.